[dit.to] n, pl dittos [It ditto, detto, pp. of dire to say, fr. L dicere--more at diction] (ca. 1678) 1: a thing mentioned previously or above--used to avoid repeating a word--often symbolized by inverted commas or apostrophes
2: a ditto mark
[2]ditto adj (1776): having the same characteristics: similar [3]ditto vt (1837) 1: to repeat the action or statement of
2. [fr. Ditto, a trademark]: to copy (as printed matter) on a duplicator [4]ditto adv (ca. 1864): as before or aforesaid: in the same manner